Staring at the pale cold walls of the hospital waiting room was making Kirsty numb. It had been hours, yet no sign of Kane recovering. After he'd been shot, the perpetrators quickly left. Kirsty had felt dazed, someone had called an ambulance, it had all happened so fast. The journey to the hospital had happened swiftly, Kane was taken away from her, and now time went slowly. She couldn't believe what had happened, her boyfriend lying in a hospital, in so much pain. The image of Kane falling to the floor forever stayed in Kirsty's mind.
"Hello, are you part of Kane's family?" A nurse. Kirsty composed herself.
"Yeah, "Kirsty composed herself. "I'm his…fiancée." Kirsty lied; gesturing towards the ring Kane had given her. Maybe they'd take her more seriously.
"You are?" The nurse looked shocked. "Well there are some complications, he's going to have to have surgery. You may want to call someone, " she said indicating the payphone in the corner. Kirsty nodded. Maybe she should call her parents. Kane could be in the hospital for ages, she couldn't cope on her own. She had no idea what had happened to Oliver, she wondered what his excuse for his departure could be. Contempt couldn't describe what she felt towards him, if it weren't for him, Kane wouldn't be unconscious. Kirsty began to cry silently, her life had fallen apart in a matter of seconds. Why did her happiness have to be ruined?
***
Hours passed, and Kirsty realised she'd fallen asleep. There was still no sign from the doctors. She didn't know where she was, she had no money, and she couldn't go back to Edwina's. She went into the visitor's bathroom, and splashed cold water onto her face. 'Be calm Kirsty, ' she said to herself. 'If you can run away and survive for months, you can cope with everything.' She heard a toilet flush, an elderly woman came out.
"I heard you talking to yourself, are you alright?"
"Yeah, " lied Kirsty. "Have you got any change you can lend me? For the payphone?"
"Yes, I have dear. And get yourself something to eat, you need a good hot meal." Kirsty was handed a crisp note, and thanked the woman. She composed herself and went to the phone. She slowly punched in the number, taking a deep breath after each number. It rang a couple of times. Kirsty glanced at the clock, it was seventeen minutes past ten. Her sisters would probably be at school, her parents at work. No one would be there for her. Kirsty's thoughts were proven wrong when her mother answered.
"Hello, Summer Bay Caravan Park."
"Mum, it's me. Kirsty." said Kirsty after a pause. Chances were that everyone had forgotten who she was.
"Kirsty! Are you OK? What's happened?"
"Kane, he's… he's in hospital, he's been shot, I don't know what to do!"
"Calm down Kirsty, where are you?" Kirsty glanced at a plaque on the wall.
"Melrose General Hospital. It's on the East Coast."
"OK, I'll find out where it is." Shelley was surprised, sad and overjoyed. Surprised because she didn't expect Kirsty to contact her family. Sad because, well, sad for Kirsty because Kane had been shot, yet happy to finally re-unite the family. "I'm coming to get you Kirsty." Kirsty put the phone down, she realisation of what she'd done, and the consequences dawning on her. She'd have to face her whole family, everyone properly, and most likely leave Kane. Her mother had sounded normal enough on the phone, but she knew that was just a counsellor's attitude. She'd have to go back to a life of misery and isolation. The honeymoon was finally over.